Overview

Camp Dates: August 18 - 23, 2019

Founded in 1999, Camp Starlight is a week-long sleep-away summer camp for children in Oregon and Washington whose lives are affected by HIV/AIDS. Some of our campers are HIV+ themselves, while others have someone in their immediate family – a parent, a sibling, a care-taker – who is infected. Camp Starlight creates an environment of fun, friendship and support for these children to cast aside their shared worries and fears around HIV and to just be kids for a week.

I feel good. I feel great, warm and not alone in a world that has been touched by HIV. I always have somebody my age or older to talk to. Those are my friends at camp.

— camper, age 8

Campers enjoy the attention of a one-to-one ratio with an all-volunteer staff of counselors, activity specialists and medical personnel. Activities at Camp Starlight include swimming, hiking, arts and crafts, archery, music, talent shows, sports, games, campfires and more. Our children come to camp at no charge to their families. We supply healthy meals, swimsuits, towels, new and used clothing, shampoo – making sure every child has what he or she needs to feel at home and cared for while they are at camp. Our aim is to create a place where these children are given the space to be themselves and continue to discover who they are and who they want to be; a place where they can make friendships with both kids and adults that can last a lifetime; a place that makes a difference in their lives.